Environment

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Cooling is becoming the constraint: how data centre design is changing under pressure

Data centres have traditionally been designed with a focus on compute capacity, with cooling treated as a supporting system that can be scaled as needed. That assumption no longer holds. As demand for data processing continues to grow, driven by cloud services and artificial intelligence, cooling is becoming a primary constraint on how infrastructure is designed, operated and expanded. This shift is particularly relevant in Australia, where rapid growth in digital infrastructure is being balanced against constraints around energy availability, cost and sustainability expectations. As new facilities are developed and existing sites are expanded, operators are facing increasing pressure to optimise both performance and resource use. One of the clearest indicators of this change is the scale of energy required to run modern data centres. Cooling alone accounts for a significant portion of overall consumption, and total demand continues to rise as compute intensity increases. This is not just a question of efficiency. It is a question of whether existing approaches to cooling can keep pace with increasing thermal loads while remaining viable in a constrained energy environment. The result is a shift in how cooling is viewed. It is no longer a downstream engineering decision. It is a core determinant of performance, cost and scalability. This becomes more pronounced as rack densities increase. Traditional air-based systems remain effective at lower densities, but their limitations become more apparent as heat loads rise. Liquid cooling has emerged as a practical response. By using the thermal properties of liquids, systems can remove heat more efficiently and support higher-density infrastructure. However, this is not simply a technology shift. It requires a different approach to system design, integration and operation. In this environment, performance is no longer defined by capacity alone. It is increasingly defined by control. Cooling systems must operate in dynamic conditions, […]

Dr Gabrielle M Caswell of SpacePort Australia Pty Ltd, a finalist in seven out of 30 Australian Space Awards, 2026

Dr Gabrielle M Caswell of SpacePort Australia Pty Ltd, has been named a finalist in seven out of 30 Australian Space Awards, 2026. Dr Caswell has confirmed her acceptance of the award nominations, she was a finalist in the 2025 (5) and 2024 (3)awards. Dr Caswell says, “It’s an exciting time to be working in space, we are watching the renaissance of human space flight, beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO), and a return to the Moon.” She continued, “It’s particularly exciting as Artemis II had a smooth launch, and all hands returned to Earth.” Dr Caswell added, “We should remember the pictures of the first landing on the Moon, Apollo 11, Artemis’ brother ship, were directly beamed from Antenna One, Moree OTC, to the world. The Moree OTC station is now decommissioned, the site is 20 minutes from SpacePort Australia. The Honeysuckle Creek Achieves has a wonderful repository of Australia’s long history, of supporting space exploration. It has a great store of images, which are really worth reviewing”. Dr Caswell has spent a large part of her working life in rural and remote environments; she has unique operational insight into the challenges of providing medical care for remote locations, a distinct advantage when understanding the operational space environment. Dr Caswell continues to work in the practices she established over 20 years ago, in rural NSW. SpacePort Austrlaia has a unique niche in the modern space industry, blending engineering with biological and ecological systems management. She continued, “Important concepts for exploration class deep space missions, and remote space colonies, are, by virtue of location, have finite resources. Technology needs to be robust, fixable and serve very precise purposes. The extraterrestrial environment is unique in its overriding hostility towards the human life form.” Dr Caswell’s enthusiasm for science, in all its forms, […]

Existing tax system would deliver $80 billion more tax from higher oil price, report finds

Australia’s oil and gas industry would deliver almost $160 billion in taxes and royalties to governments over the next five years if high international prices persist under existing tax settings, new independent analysis by Wood Mackenzie shows. This represents around $80 billion more than under typical long-term price assumptions equating to nearly $17 billion per year in additional revenue flowing to federal and state budgets. Australian Energy Producers Chief Executive Samantha McCulloch said the findings reinforce that Australia’s existing fiscal framework including the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax (PRRT) is already working as intended. “Australia’s oil and gas fiscal regime is designed to deliver strong returns to the community, and this analysis shows it does exactly that, especially when prices are high,” Ms McCulloch said. “As global energy markets tighten and commodity prices increase, the benefit flows directly to Australian governments through higher company tax, royalties and PRRT receipts. “The analysis shows the PRRT would deliver the largest uplift in tax revenue, with a 70 per cent increase in oil prices almost trebling receipts from $13.5 billion to $38.9 billion over five years.” The analysis compares a sustained oil price of around US$120 per barrel with a typical long-term assumption of US$70 per barrel, showing government revenues already increase as commodity prices rise. Ms McCulloch said the findings come at a time when global energy market disruptions have underscored the importance of Australia’s oil and gas industry to domestic supply and regional energy security. “Australia’s oil and gas industry is making a substantial contribution to government revenues, while continuing to deliver reliable energy at home and supporting energy security across our region,” she said. “Domestic gas prices remain stable and well below international levels, and our LNG exports are helping secure supply chains for critical fuels into Australia from key regional partners. […]

Ancient tectonic processes the key to locating rare minerals essential for modern technologies

New research from Adelaide University has revealed that geological processes dating back billions of years are critical to locating the rare earth elements needed for modern technologies and the global clean energy transition. Published today in Science Advances, the study shows a strong global link between ancient subduction zones – where tectonic plates collide – and the formation of rare earth element (REE) deposits and carbonatites, a type of hot molten rock called magma, known to host these valuable resources. Rare earth elements are essential components in technologies such as electric vehicles, wind turbines, smartphones, and defence systems. However, locating economically viable deposits remains a major global challenge. Led by Professor Carl Spandler from the School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences, the research team reconstructed Earth’s geological history over the past two billion years using advanced plate tectonic modelling. They identified regions of the Earth’s mantle that had been fertilised by subduction processes, where material from one tectonic plate is forced beneath another, releasing fluids and elements into the overlying mantle. The Adelaide University researchers found that these fertilised mantle regions now underlie approximately 67% of carbonatites and 72% of REE deposits formed over the past 1.8 billion years. For older deposits, that figure rises to 92%. Prof Spandler said the findings provide compelling evidence that ancient subduction zones play a fundamental role in creating the conditions needed for rare earth deposits to form. “This research shows that the ingredients for these critical mineral deposits were put in place many million to even billions of years ago,” Prof Spandler said. “By identifying where these ancient processes occurred, we can significantly narrow down the search areas for future discoveries.” The study also challenges previous theories that linked these deposits primarily to mantle plumes –columns of hot material rising from deep within the […]

Faster approvals critical to realising Queensland’s Taroom Trough opportunity

The Queensland Government’s welcome plan to unlock the Taroom Trough represents a significant opportunity to strengthen Australia’s fuel security and economic resilience. Australian Energy Producers Chief Executive Samantha McCulloch said the Taroom Trough has long been recognised by industry as a highly prospective basin with the potential to play a major role in Australia’s energy future. “The Taroom Trough is an exciting opportunity for Queensland and Australia — a significant oil resource that could bolster our fuel security and help to reduce reliance on imports,” Ms McCulloch said. “The industry has long recognised the potential of the Taroom region, and the Queensland Government’s Taroom Trough Development Plan is an important step in encouraging exploration and investment.” Ms McCulloch said the focus must now shift to ensuring projects can proceed without unnecessary delay. “Faster, more efficient approvals and stronger policy settings will be critical to unlocking Taroom and similar basins,” she said. “We need all levels of government working together to fix the approvals system. Carving oil and gas projects out of streamlined reforms under the EPBC was a missed opportunity, and it makes even less sense now given the impacts of the global energy crisis. “There is a significant opportunity not just in Taroom, but across Australia — but it will only be realised with the right policy settings and investment certainty to bring new supply online. “That means encouraging exploration, delivering much faster approvals, and addressing activism and lawfare that is delaying critical energy projects. “Australia has substantial undeveloped oil resources, and developing them is key to strengthening fuel security, supporting regional jobs and helping shield Australians from future global energy shocks.”

GDM Fast-Tracks Cashflow at Challenger Gold Mine

Great Divide Mining Ltd has moved to accelerate near-term cash generation at its wholly owned Challenger Gold Mine in Adelong, NSW, utilising historical mullock stockpiles on site for initial process plant feed. The mullock provides a low-cost and immediate production feed as commissioning works continue. The priority mullock sites — Currajong, Great Victoria/Annetts/Research, Donkey Hill and Radcliffe/O’Briens — comprise stockpiles ranging from 10,500 to 35,000 tonnes at average gold grades between 1.38g/t and 1.6g/t. “The mullock sits at surface, eliminating drilling and conventional mining costs, with short off-road haulage distances to the upgraded Challenger processing plant,” said CEO Justin Haines. “Seizing this opportunity materially strengthens the Company’s restart strategy,” he said. “This is exactly the kind of opportunity we look for at historic goldfields. The material is already mined, it’s sitting at surface, and at grades higher than some operating hard-rock mines,” Mr. Haines continued. “With record gold prices and minimal recovery costs, mullock processing provides a straightforward pathway to early cashflow while we continue ramp-up activities across the broader Challenger site,” he said Local contractor L.A. Broome Contracting will mobilise within two to three weeks to commence haulage of mullock to the ROM pad, ensuring consistent plant feed as commissioning progresses. GDM is taking a “treat-all” strategy to the mullock to maximise gold recovery. Challenger, part of GDM’s 70km² Adelong Project, is being recommissioned under a staged “crawl-walk-run” restart plan designed to establish commercial production while expanding operational capacity. “Cleaning up the mullock onsite is a win for the environment as well,” said Haines.

Why India joining the US alliance on AI tech is an opportunity for Australia

Arup George, Research Manager, UNSW Sydney India has formally joined the United States’ flagship international alliance on artificial intelligence (AI) supply chain security: “Pax Silica”. Officials from both countries signed the Pax Silica declaration on the sidelines of a major AI summit in New Delhi last week. This initiative seeks to bring together US “allies and trusted partners” to lead the global AI race. Australia was a founding member. While Taiwan looks set to keep dominating advanced AI chip manufacturing, it relies on a complex international supply chain, with critical aspects dominated by China. When essential elements come from a narrow set of suppliers, even minor disruptions can ripple globally. Diversity matters. That’s why Australia and India now have an opportunity to become essential international players. Why Washington is building an alliance AI is rapidly becoming a foundational resource of the 21st century across manufacturing, logistics, finance, healthcare, drug discovery and defence. The Pax Silica alliance recognises different countries play distinct and critical roles in building the tech that powers AI. For example, advanced chip-design expertise is concentrated in the US. Key semiconductor manufacturing equipment comes from the Netherlands and Japan. South Korea produces a small but important slice of the world’s AI computer chips. But the biggest chip maker by far is the tiny island nation of Taiwan. Healthcare AI robots at an exhibition at the India AI Impact Summit. AP The world’s chip factory Taiwan produces 90% of the world’s most advanced AI chips, designed by US firms such as Nvidia, Google and AMD. These firms overwhelmingly depend on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). This remains the only manufacturer that can produce the world’s most cutting-edge chips at scale. And their advantage extends beyond making chips. TSMC also possesses unique advanced packaging capabilities that integrate AI accelerators with high-bandwidth memory chips. This is essential for achieving the tight coupling of “compute” […]

300 per cent boost to clean, green energy uptake will see surge in lifting and shifting of specialist machinery

As Australia presses the button on accelerated conversion to clean, green energy, more industrial plants, resources sites and commercial buildings will face lift, shift and placement issues for the specialist machinery involved. As the move to clean, green electrical energy accelerates to meet Australia’s 2030 emissions deadlines, huge quantities of heavy new electrical plant will need to be safely and delicately lifted, shifted and positioned within confined places. New turbines, generators, transformers, switchboards, charging infrastructure, batteries, and emergency backup plant – some of which weighing 50-100 tons or more – will be needed at transport and logistics facilities, industrial and social infrastructure construction projects, factories, food and beverage process plants, warehouses, and mining, gas and energy projects. “Australia faces a huge increase in new electrical plant capacity over the next decade, with the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) forecasting a near tripling of total generation and storage capacity by 2035 to reach 190 gigawatts (GW), up from 82 GW currently,” says Australian actuation, isolation and suspension specialist Air Springs Supply. “This massive expansion of new energy inputs is driven by the retirement of coal-fired power stations (90% expected to close by 2035), increasing electricity demand from electrification of transport and industry, and the national target of 82% renewable energy by 2030,” says Air Springs Supply Technical Product Manager Vinh Lam. The boost in electrical energy generation will in turn lead to a surge in demand for new plant and infrastructure across industrial and commercial developments, both in space-efficient new development and repurposing of limited space within existing facilities. Preparing for heavy lifts involved inside factories, workshops, and materials processing plants can pose accessibility and safety challenge in confined spaces, especially where overhead cranes are impractical. Low-profile Pronal CLT lifting cushions set up to safely and gently raise a heavy load. Big new […]

Aussie researchers develop eco-friendly roof tiles using coal ash and recycled glass, cutting CO₂ emissions by 13%

RMIT University Key facts: RMIT University and Bristile Roofing developed sustainable roof tiles using coal ash and recycled glass, reducing CO₂ emissions by 13% compared to traditional concrete tiles The tiles replace 10% cement with pond ash and 10% river sand with unwashed glass waste, whilst maintaining quality and improving fire resistance Successful full-scale manufacturing trials were conducted at Bristile Roofing’s Melbourne facility, demonstrating commercial viability The technology has also been adapted to create concrete bricks using 35% waste materials, offering 30% better insulation than conventional bricks Australia produces 12 million tonnes of coal ash annually and 1.3 million tonnes of glass waste, making this innovation significant for waste management A groundbreaking collaboration between RMIT University and Bristile Roofing has led to the development of sustainable roof tiles incorporating coal ash and recycled glass, achieving a 13% reduction in CO₂ emissions compared to traditional concrete tiles. This Australian innovation addresses the pressing issue of industrial waste management by re-purposing materials that would otherwise contribute to landfill, while offering consumers a durable, fire-resistant roofing option that meets Australian Standards. The full-scale manufacturing trials at Bristile Roofing’s Melbourne facility produced hundreds of these eco-friendly tiles, demonstrating both environmental and engineering benefits. A comprehensive circular life cycle assessment of the new tiles, covering the entire process from raw material production through to end-of-life landfilling, demonstrated a 13% reduction in CO₂ emissions compared to conventional concrete tiles. RMIT’s Dr Yulin Patrisia, Bristile Roofing’s Samantha So, RMIT’s Dr David Law and student Madushan Mudiyanselage at the Bristile factory in Dandenong. RMIT project lead, Dr Chamila Gunasekara, said this substantial environmental benefit largely stems from using harvested pond ash and unwashed recycled glass sand, which avoid energy-intensive processing and effectively replace virgin materials. “By replacing 10% of cement with harvested pond ash and 10% of […]

Major Milestone: Six King Long EVolution low-floor electric buses enter Victorian service

Six brand-new King Long EVolution low-floor electric chassis have entered service in Melbourne — a significant step forward for the brand and a strong demonstration of the world-class capability of the EVolution platform. Purpose-built for the most demanding of missions, these vehicles were custom-designed for high-frequency airport operations. Running 24/7, they are engineered to meet the toughest duty cycles — proving beyond doubt that the King Long EVolution is not only capable but trusted for the hardest passenger transport tasks. This milestone is the result of a powerful collaboration between King Long, one of the world’s largest bus manufacturers, and Global Bus Ventures (NZ), New Zealand’s leading body builder. The vehicles were finished in Australia, delivering a final product with market-leading local Australian and New Zealand build content. This trans-Tasman approach supports local jobs and industry, combining globally respected chassis technology with craftsmanship that meets Australasian standards. Together, this partnership unites local build content with global innovation and scale — delivering the best of both worlds for operators who demand reliability, performance, and class-leading efficiency. Pete White, Managing Director of Bus Stop Sales — the exclusive Australian distributor of King Long, said the milestone cements King Long’s growing presence in Australia: “SkyBus is one of the most demanding applications for passenger transport, with aroundthe-clock operations and the highest expectations for reliability. For the King Long EVolution platform to be trusted in this environment sends a powerful message — that King Long delivers world-class technology with the performance and dependability Australian operators need. This is global leadership, delivered locally.” King Long’s EVolution chassis is the cornerstone of a fast-growing zero-emissions portfolio now operating in Australia. From 12-metre low-floor city buses to resource industry coaches and now high-frequency airport fleets, King Long electric buses are already proving themselves across diverse Australian conditions. […]

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